Sterilizing apparatus



l Sept 17, 1929 D. CROWTHER STERILIZING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2, 1918 Patented Sept. 17l 1929 UNITED STATES DAVID CROWTHER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA STERILIZING APPARATUS Application led February 2, 1918.` Serial No. 215,133.

My invention relates to a sterilizing apparatus and is intended for carrying out the process disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 212,319, filed January 5 17, 1918. The object is to provide an apparatus by means of which a process of the nature disclosed therein may be performed with accuracy and without liability of contamination of the material which is being l treated. I accomplish these objects by providing a cylinder strong enough to withstand the highest degree of internal pressure which it may be desirable to employ and by constructing of glass, porcelain, china l or any other material not acted upon by the gas, that portion of the apparatus which is inside of the cylinder and which is in contact with the material being -treated during the time it is maintained under the pressure of a gas to cause super-saturation of such material. Furthermore, these last-mentioned parts are readily removable der in order that they may be thoroughly sterilized before each operation, in any desired manner, as by placing them in boiling water. The theory of my process of sterilizing is explained in Iriy prior application above referred to and need not be explained at length in the present application. It is suiiicient to state that the bacteria or other pressure of a gas for a considerable period of time sufficient to cause super-saturation,

and that this pressure is then suddenly released. It is therefore necessary to provide a cylinder .which is sufficiently strong to withstand the pressure of. the' gas to which the material being treated is'subjected and to provide means for Asuddenly releasing this pressure. y l

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the apparatus shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view mostly in vertical central section; Fig. 2 isa view in horizontal section4 on the line is a View in side sectional detail tion; Fig-5 is a 5-5 of Fi 4.

A metallic cylinder 6 has an ripening 8 elevation; Fig. 4 is a view in section on the line The plug has a bore 22 from the cylinmaterial to be treated'is subjected to 'the Ia bore 46 open at both 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3.

view of a slight modica in .its bottomand a connection 10 through whlch gas 'such as carbon dioXid, for instance, is conveyed under pressure from a suitable container. The cylinder 6 is pref-V erably lined with some material such as tin which will not be affected by the gas and at its top has screw threads 12 adapted to recelve cooperating screw threads of a dependmg flange 14 of a plug member 16. The plug member has a bottom portion 18 of soft 60 metal which may have concentric grooves and ridges to engage corresponding grooves and ridges on the top of the cylinder at 20. extending upwardly part way to the top thereof, and this bore 05 connects with a smaller bore 24 extendingv through a projection 26 on the plug. -The upper end of the plug is provided with a screw threaded flange 28 adapted to cooperate with screw threads on a cap 30. The cap has a downwardly-extending projection 32 adapted to fit closely upon the projection 26 and close the bore therethrough when the cap is screwed down. The flange 28 forms a chamber 34 upon the upper end of the 75' plug and from the bottom of this receptacle thereleads a downwardly and outwardly extending openin'g 36 to which is fitted an outwardly and downwardly extending tube 38.

A spring 40 is placed-on the bottom of the 80' chamberformed in the cylinder 6, and upon this spring rests a glass tube 42 closed at its bottom for containing the. bacteria or other material to be treated. Within the tube 42 is placed a smaller tube 44 having 85 ends. The lower end of the tube is beveled as shown at 48 in order to permit material to pass from the outer tube up through the bore of the smaller tube. The upper end of the tube 44 is coned as shown at 50 in order that it may ft the conical seat which joins the different sized bores `22 and 24 in the plug. The spring 40 and the length of the tube 95 44 are so proportioned that when the plug is screwed upon`the top of the cylinder the coned end 50 of the tube will enter the bore 22 before 'the screw threads on the plug engage thoseon the cylinder, and hence the outer tube 42 is held with its topv slightly below the bottom 18 of the plug. j

In order to make a more perfect joint between the projections 26 and 32'when the cap 30 is screwed down, I prefer to insert a piece of foil 52 of some soft metal between the projections. This foil also tends to direct downwardly the material when the latter is released by unscrewing the cap. j

The construction shown 1n Fig. 4 is the same as that previously described excepting that the projection 26 is beveled at l54 in order that the material escaping between the surfaces of the projections may expand more quickly.

Bacteria or other material to be treated is placed in the tube 42 into which is also placed the tube 44. The plug 16 is screwed down to make a close joint at 20 and the cap 30 is screwed down to make a close joint between the projections 26 and 32. Gas under pressure is now admitted through the connection 10 into the interior of the cylinder 6 and rises outside of the tube 42 and passes down into the tube so that the material there- This pressure is maintained for the desired length of time and then the cap 30 is un-V screwed, suddenly releasing the pressure and forcing the material up the bore 46 of the tube 44 out into the gas expansion chamber 34 which is open to ordinary atmospheric pressure or which may be below atmospheric pressure. From this receptacle it runs out of the tube 38 and may be collected in any suitable manner.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for sterilizing material comprising a chamber in which the material may be subjected to gas under pressure, a removable receptacle in said chamber for the material, means for introducing gas into said chamber and receptacle, a gas expansion chamber having a connection with the first chamber, a tube leading from a point near the bottom of said removable receptacle to said connection, and vmeans whereby said connection may be closed to maintain the pressure of gas in the first chamber and may e opened to release thepressure into said expansion chamber.

2. An apparatus for sterilizing material comprising a chamber in which the material may be subjected to gas under pressure, a removable recepta'cle in said chamber for the material, means for introducing gas into said chamber and receptacle, a gas expansion chamber having a connection with the first chamber, means for resiliently supporting the removable receptacle from the bottom of said chamber, atube having a beveled end resting upon the bottom of said receptacle 'and leading to said connection, and means whereby vsaid connection maybe `closed to maintain the pressure of gas in the first` chamber and ma be opened to release. the pressure into said7 expansion chamber.

3. An apparatus for sterilizing material comprising a cylinder provided with a chamber in which the material may be subjected to gas under pressure, means for introducing gas into. said chamber, a plug member adapted to be` secured upon the upper end of said cylinder, a gas expansion chamber formed in said plug member, having a connection with the rst chamber, a cap adapted to be screwed upon said plug member, and means carried by said\cap whereby said connection may be closed to maintain the pressure of gas in the first chamber and may be opened to release the pressure into said expansion chamber. 4. An apparatus for sterilizingmaterial `comprising a cylinder provided with a chamber 1n which the material may be subjected to gas under pressure, a removable receptacle in saidchamber for the material, means for introducing gas into said chamber and receptacle, a spring for supporting the removable receptacle from the bottom of said chamber, a tube having a beveled end resting upon the bottom of said receptacle, a plug member adapted to be screwed upon'the upperend of said cylinder, a gas expansion chamber in said plug member havinga connection with the first chamber, said 4connection comprising a bore extending through the plug member adapted to receive the u per end of said tube, a cap adapted to e screwed upon said plug member, means carried by said cap whereby said connection may be closed to maintain thepressure of gas in the first chamber and ma be opened to release the pressure into sai expansion chamber, and a tube extending from the bottom of said expansion chamber.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a receptacle for fluid containing bacteria having means for connection with gas under pressure and soluble in said fiuid, a gas expansion chamber' having inlet and outlet ports and means for normally closing Said inlet port, and means for conducting mingled gas and bacterial fluid to said inlet port for delivery to and release in said chamber when said closing means is opened.

,6. An apparatus of the class described comprising 'a casing having means for'connection with gas under high pressure, Ia test tube fitting within said casing to .contain bacteria sus nded in fluid in which gas is soluble, sai casing having a gas releasing chamber' and inlet and outlet ports therefor, and means for normallyclosing said inlet port, said inlet port having means submerged in said fluid for conductingthe mingled gas and fluid to said port for release in said chamber when said closing means is opened.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising a casing having means for conchamber and may be opened to release the nection with gas under high pressure, a test gas and materlal into the other chamber.

tube for fluid having bacteria suspended f therein fitting within said casing and in In testimon signature;

which fluid said gas is soluble, said casing t,

having a gas releasing chamber with inlet and outlet ports, a tube for said inlet port submerged in said Huid, means for normally closing said inlet port, the mingled Huid and gas flowing thereto and being released "in said chamber when said closing means is opened.

8. An apparatus of the class described comprising a metallic tube having means for connection with a suitable gas under high pressure, a test tube containin fluid having bacteria suspended therein tting within said metallic tube, a spring normally holding said test tube in its raised position, a passage being provided between the walls of said test tube and said metallic tube for admitting the gas pressure to said fluid, a head mounted on said metallic tube and having a gas releasing chamber provided .with inlet and outlet ports and means for normally closing sa1d inlet port, and a tube communicating at its upper end with said inlet port and having its lower end seated in said test tube within the fluid therein, the mingled gas and fluid flowing through said inlet port and being released in said chamber when said closing means is opened.

9. An apparatus for sterilizig material comprising a casing having two chambers formed therein, one of said chambers adapted to contain said material, means for introducing gas under pressure into said chamber a connection between the chambers, and means whereby said connection may be closed to maintain the pressure of gas in said material-holding chamber and may be opened to release the gas and material into the other chamber.

10. An' apparatus for sterilizing material comprising a casing having two chambers formed therein, a removable receptacle 'in one of said chambers adapted to contain said material, means for introducing gas under pressure into the receptacle and chamber containing it, a connection between the chambers, and means whereby said connection may be closed to maintain the pressure 0j gas in said material-holding chamber and may be opened to release the gas and mate? rial into the other chamber.

11. An apparatus for sterilizing material comprising a casing having' two chambers formed therein, one of said chambers adapted to contain said material, means for introducing gas under pressure into said chamber, a common port between said chambers,

and a valve device for said port whereby the latter may be closed to maintain the pressure of gas in said material-holding y whereof I hereunto aflix my DAVID CRQWTHER. 

